Senior Holt Swings to The Top
For most students at PVHS, sports are just seen as games. However, this is not the case for varsity and nationally ranked juniors tennis player, Brandon Holt. To him, tennis isn’t just a game; it’s a lifestyle.
At an age of three, Holt’s family would drive to a nearby tennis club to play tennis together. Growing up as the son of professional tennis player, Tracy Austin–the youngest woman in history to win a grand slam in 1979 as well as win three career grand slams–the court has always been a second home for Holt. “My mom has definitely helped my game because she has taught me what being a professional means. It takes dedication and focus,” Holt explained.
Tracy Austin has given Holt a lot of advice for his life on and off the court. “The only things you can control as an athlete are your preparation, effort level, and attitude. And if you strive towards doing that as best as you can do, that’s the all you can do. Those three things are like that in life as well…If you do everything to the best of your abilities in those three areas, then you have to be satisfied.”
Whenever Holt isn’t traveling, participating in tournaments, or doing homework, he is always trying to improve his game. He trains three hours on the court or at the gym almost every day to become the best tennis player possible. This dedication and focus has paid off throughout his tennis career. This year alone, Holt has was won seven tournaments. The most recent tournament was in October in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Pan American Games. The Pan American Games is the North American playoff for players under eighteen years old. Holt was victorious in both the single and doubles championship bringing home two trophies. In September, Holt and his doubles partner, Riley Smith, a student at Los Alamitos High School, competed in the US Open Junior doubles finals. Unfortunately, Holt and Smith were unable to come out on top. The final score was 5-7 and 6-7.
Just last year, Holt won the CIF Southern Section Individual Championship. The last PVHS student to accomplish this feat was Pete Sampras in 1987. Pete Sampras was the former number 1 player in tennis and won a total of 14 grand slams. He is considered one of the greatest in tennis history.
When Tracy Austin was asked about her thought on her son’s accomplishments, she states, “I am extremely proud of him. I am proud of his work ethic, of his ability to battle on the court and be so disciplined day in and day for years to have this success. Overall, I am extremely proud of the athlete and person he has become.”
On the court, everything besides tennis is nonexistent for Holt. He believes that tennis is very relaxing and is constantly thinking about how he can improve his game. One might expect a lot of pressure that comes with being the son of Tracy Austin; however, this is not the case for Holt. For him, the only real pressure that he faces is from within.
“At home there isn’t really any pressure. The only pressure I have is from myself to keep working hard. . .but on the court, during a match there will naturally always be pressure. And that is one of the things I like most. The challenge to fight the pressure and the feeling when the pressure is lifted from your shoulders is the best feeling in the world.”
Tennis has always been a major part of Holt’s life and has influenced his actions and decisions. “Tennis has affected my life in almost every aspect. Mostly it has taught me hard work and sacrifice. It used to be hard to give up time with your friends or time away from things regular kids do, but now I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just learning how important hard work is and seeing it first hand pay off is a huge life lesson for me,” he said.
Holt’s calculus teacher, Ms. Mitchell stated, “I’ve seen him play tennis on our tennis team and he has self control and discipline. It’s a good combination to have. I am very excited for him. He is very talented and it is kind of neat to see him do all those great things.”
The Varsity Coach at PVHS, Moscovici, states, “He’s definitely a very special player and student at our school. I think he is definitely one of the, if not the, most talented players in the PV program. He is definitely a world of talent on the tennis court, has really good work ethics, takes care of himself well, and very humble.”
In addition to Holt’s successful tennis career in high school, he plans to continue his career in college. He has already committed to play for the USC Trojans, widely considered as having one of the best tennis teams in the country. USC has earned five national championships in the last eight years. After USC, Holt plans to go pro.
When asked about his success, Holt attributes his triumphs and accomplishments to his choices on and off the court. “I have learned that to be the best, like my mom, you have to be the best at everything. And that is not just on the court. That is in the gym, stretching, eating, sleeping, and just taking care of your body so you can play at the highest level possible…Each aspect off the court matters and can be the difference. Many matches are won off the court. Even if that didn’t make the difference, you want to know in your head you did all you can do. Overall the most important thing I have learned is not to have any regrets in your mind when you look back.”